Users who use laptops all day need good battery life as they becoming more powerful and portable. Even with breakthroughs in battery technology, maximising laptop battery life in 2024 can be difficult, especially while travelling. Extending your laptop’s battery life is essential when working remotely, travelling, or gaming. Here are 2024’s best laptop battery-saving tips.
Lower Screen Brightness
One of the easiest ways to save laptop battery life is to dim the screen. Your laptop’s display is one of its most energy-hungry parts, and running it at full brightness can drain your battery quickly. When not needed, dimming the screen to a comfortable level can save power, especially in well-lit areas. Many computers in 2024 automatically adjust brightness based on environmental illumination, but manually decreasing it can still save electricity. TechRadar (cite)
Switch on power-saving modes
Most laptops have power-saving modes that optimise system performance to save battery life. Windows has “Battery Saver” mode, while macOS has “Low Power Mode.” These battery-saving settings darken the display, minimise CPU utilisation, and limit background activities. Enable these modes when you’re on the move or low on battery to extend your laptop’s battery life without sacrificing functionality. Setting up power strategies to reduce performance when you’re only browsing or editing documents can also help. Reference: Microsoft
Close background apps and unnecessary programs
Background programs and apps can drain your laptop’s battery without you knowing. Operating systems make it easier to track and control power-hungry apps in 2024. Close unneeded programs and disable starting programs. Background apps like cloud sync, update managers, and multi-tab browsers deplete power quickly. Keep your active apps low to save battery consumption and increase performance. Reference: Apple Support
Wireless Features Off
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and location services are useful yet power-hungry. Turning off wifi capabilities while not in use saves battery life. Laptops in 2024 have enhanced connection, but they don’t need to stay on 24/7. If you’re working offline, disconnect Wi-Fi, and if you’re not using Bluetooth, disable Bluetooth. Disabling these services while not in use extends laptop battery life. Reference: PCMag
Use Cooling Pad
Laptops that overheat lose performance and battery life. In 2024, laptops have better cooling mechanisms, but external influences can still heat them up. Laptops that sit on beds or couches might overheat due to airflow blockage. Buying a laptop cooling pad might assist keep the battery cool and prevent overheating. Most laptops operate better and consume less energy when cool. Reference: Cooler Master
Disable Keyboard Backlight
The keyboard backlighting on many laptops is handy in low light but drains the battery. Reduce power use by turning off the keyboard backlight in well-lit environments. Some laptops in 2024 have smart backlighting that adjusts brightness according on ambient light, however removing it when not in use can save battery life. See Digital Trends.
Optimise Storage
Hard drives, especially older spinning ones, use more power than SSDs. Most current laptops have SSDs by default in 2024, but if you still have a hard disc, upgrade. This will boost laptop performance and save battery life. Cleaning out superfluous files and defragmenting non-SSD hard drives can help the system perform more efficiently, consuming less power. Reference: Vital
Manage peripherals
USB devices, external hard drives, and smartphones can drain your laptop battery. In 2024, USB-C is the most used port type and can power external monitors and hard drives. Disconnect unused peripherals to save battery life. Only plug items into your laptop as needed to save battery life. Reference: Anker
Upgrade Software and Drivers
Updated software and drivers keep your laptop running smoothly. Manufacturers deploy performance and battery-saving improvements in 2024. Outdated drivers for hardware like the graphics card or chipset might waste power. To use the latest power-saving innovations, update your operating system and laptop model. Reference: Laptop Mag
Limit Resource-Heavy Apps and Multitasking
Running many high-performance programs might strain your laptop and empty its battery faster. Limit multitasking and close resource-intensive apps to save battery life. Modern computers can handle video editing and gaming in 2024, but they take more power than web browsing and creating documents. You can save battery life by using lightweight apps and minimising resource use. Reference: CNET
Tools for battery management
Many laptops in 2024 include built-in battery management capabilities to monitor battery health and usage. These tools show how apps and hardware affect battery life. On Windows laptops, the “Battery Report” function displays battery usage statistics, while macOS’s “Energy” tab in Activity Monitor does the same. Laptop longevity can be extended by monitoring battery status and replacing it when needed. Source: Microsoft Support
Conclusion
Maximising your laptop’s battery life in 2024 requires tiny changes that save electricity. Adjust your display settings, manage wifi features, close superfluous apps, and keep your system cool to increase your laptop’s battery life and get more done without continually seeking for a power outlet. To get years of battery life out of your laptop, maintain its software and hardware. Reference: PCWorld